Liberal Democrats launch Local Election Campaign

5.35.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 3rd Apr 2007

Sir Ming Campbell

Launching the Liberal Democrat local government elections campaign today, Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ming Campbell highlighted the real and positive change that the party is making in local communities across the country. He emphasised that it is Liberal Democrat councils who are putting in place practical measures to cut crime and tackle the issue of climate change while giving power back to local communities.

Ming also attacked the Labour government for being "the most centralising and authoritarian government of the modern era" and the Conservatives for learning all the wrong lessons - "the soundbites, the spin" - from Tony Blair. Local government pundits predict that Labour, who also launched their campaign today, will lose a net 600 seats across the country, while the Conservatives will struggle to gain a foothold in the North. Visiting Nottingham with Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister said 10 years of investment in local communities by Labour had improved schools, health and transport, and cut crime.